What is with these classic American directors falling in love with Great Britain? First Woody Allen and now Martin Scorsese? What’s so good about the UK anyway? Well, the acting talent for one. Production on The Invention Of Hugo Cabret is underway in London now with Johnny Depp producing Scorsese’s first foray into children’s book adaptations. We’ve previously reported the casting of Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz and Helen McCrory, but according to Cinematical, the full lineup now includes Jude Law, Ray Winstone, and veterans Christopher Lee, Richard Griffiths, and Frances de la Tour.

Scorsese clearly has his eye on the newly out-of-work Harry Potter cast, particularly Rupert Grint, according to another report from Cinematical. Grint, who hasn’t attempted to distance himself from the Harry Potter phenomenon quite as aggressively as Daniel Radcliffe did with his horse riding adventures in Equus, has reportedly caught Scorsese’s attention, even earning a comparison to his frequent collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio. Scorsese was quoted saying:

"When Leo was in Titanic and Romeo + Juliet, nobody saw him becoming a badass in movies like The Departed. But he has become one of the greatest actors of all time. The very same could be true of Rupert."

Scorsese offers up more praise for Grint’s work in the Harry Potter films and goes on to say, “I would be interested in working with him. I would have no issues in casting him as a gangster; he is a very talented young man.” Getting cast in a Scorsese movie is probably just the break Grint needs to make his mark outside of Ron Weasley's shadow. Or he could follow the DiCaprio path and first join a Danny Boyle movie that has him appear in a sex scene with Tilda Swinton. For now he has Jonathan Lynn’s Wild Target out this fall opposite Bill Nighy and Emily Blunt.